ALPENA, Mich. — A combat center in northern Michigan has become the third military base in the state to test positive for contaminated groundwater.
Preliminary results came in this week for tests conducted at five locations at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center earlier this year, said Capt. Brian Blumline, a civil engineer for the base. They were considered safe at the time.
"It’s been in our groundwater for a long time and the test numbers came in very high," Blumline said.
The maximum level of such contaminants deemed safe in Michigan is 70 parts per trillion, which Blumline described as one drop of dye in three Olympic-sized swimming pools. State Rep. Sue Allor said the test results at the base were at or about 80,000 parts per trillion.
"My feeling right now is there needs to be more action and this isn’t moving fast enough," Allor said. "We’re talking about people’s lives here. I want to make sure the health, safety and welfare of residents, animals and property are the top priority in this."